It will take “three to four years” for the US to build its capacity for uranium enrichment as it strives to eliminate its reliance on Russia for nuclear fuel, a House subcommittee hearing has been told.

Kathryn Huff, assistant secretary for the office of nuclear energy at the US Department of Energy, told the subcommittee on economic growth, energy policy, and regulatory affairs: “It’s absolutely a key priority for my office, for the administration, to ensure a reliable supply chain from trustworthy sources.

“We acknowledge that it is not a sustainable approach to allow continued dependence on Russia for this fuel.”